Does the Use of Pitocin CauseAutism?

Is there a correlation between pitocin and Autism? Researchers at Duke University are now putting the pieces together. They say that evidence points to pitocin, as a possible cause of Autism. The use of pitocin to induce labor has been steadily climbing for the past 20 years- about the same time period as the increase in Autism has been reported. In 1992, a survey by the medical anthropologists at the University of Texas found that 81% of women in U.S hospitals receive pitocin to either induce labor or augment labor. Currently, public health authorities have identified an enormous increase in the incidences of childhood Autism. In California, the number of kids receiving state services for autistic disorder has nearly quadrupled since 1987. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say they feel that pitocin may cause serious health concerns for the newborn.

So what is pitocin and what is its origin? In 1953, the Parke-Davis pharmaceutical company developed the drug, which is a synthetic substance that mimics the natural hormone oxytocin. The body makes oxytocin naturally, and is produced during breast feeding (causing the letdown of milk), and during company and privacy, it is produced by men and women. It aids in emotional bonding and social interactions. The artificial oxytocin substance called pitocin, comes from the pituitary glands of cattle and is a widely used drug, used during labor and delivery. There is nationwide and worldwide pitocin abuse, with the rate of Autism climbing right along beside it. Remember – there are side effects to all pharmaceutical drugs. Here are 18 reasons to avoid pitocin. These are warnings from the manufactures themselves, to the public, about their product:

18. Pitocin, just like any drug, can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which causes hives, difficulty breathing and swallowing, heart palpitations, and can lead to death.

17. There is an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage after Pitocin-augmented births.

16. Pitocin can disrupt the normal heartbeat of the mother, causing reactions such as cardiac arrhythmia or premature ventricular contractions, a condition where the person experiences irregular or ‘skipped’ heartbeats and/or palpitations.

15. Another risk of Pitocin is pelvic hematoma, a blood clot or even larger area of blood in the soft tissue of the pelvis.

14. Pitocin has an antidiuretic effect on the body, meaning it increases the absorption of water. This leads to the risk of water intoxication, especially when there are additional fluids such as saline in the IV or lots of water to drink. There have been cases of women suffering severe cases, including coma and even death, during pitocin-induced labor.

13. Pitocin can cause a hypertensive episode in the mother. This basically means a sudden surge in blood pressure, and if the elevation is severe enough, it can cause a heart attack or stroke.

12. Fatal afibrinogenemia is another listed side effect of Pitocin. In everyday language, this translates to slow, uncontrollable bleeding that results in death.

11. Women have died from uncontrolled high blood pressure, bleeding on the brain, water intoxication, hemorrhage, and uterine rupture after the use of Pitocin during the first and second stages of labor.

10. There have been no studies to examine the carcinogenicity or mutagenicity of Pitocin. In layman’s terms, we have no idea if this drug causes cancer or causes cells to change in any way.

9. We have no idea what kind of effect Pitocin has on a woman’s future fertility, let alone the fertility of her newborn baby.

8. The deaths of babies, for a variety of reasons, have been associated with the use of Pitocin during labor.

7. Pitocin has been associated with heart problems in the newborn, such as bradycardia (slow heartbeat), premature ventricular contractions, and other arrhythmias.

6. Cases of permanent damage to the newborn’s brain or central nervous system have been documented as a result of Pitocin-induced births {could they have conveniently left out the illness by the name of Autism here}.

5. Pitocin during labor is associated with low scores on the five minute Apgar test, the newborn exam that looks at alertness, respiratory, and circulatory health.

4. Retinal hemorrhage, a common symptom of shaken baby syndrome, can be caused by the physical force of a Pitocin-induced birth.

3. Increased risk of newborn jaundice is associated with Pitocin.

2. Hypertonic (excessively strong) contractions, and tetanic (prolonged) contractions are some of the most common side effects of Pitocin overdose. If the contractions are coming so fast that there’s no resting time in between, the dose is too high. And this leads to my number 1 reason to say no to this drug, because it seems that far too often, an inappropriately high dosage is given.

1. Overdose of Pitocin is characterized by an even more frightening list of symptoms, including cervical and vaginal lacerations, deceleration of the baby’s heart rate, postpartum hemorrhage, fetal hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), and even organ failure and death in the mother or baby.

There are always risks involved when we interrupt the natural flow of childbirth. Many doctors feel nothing should be administered during childbirth, because it could damage the fetus. The list of dangerous and fatal complications from using pitocin is very long. New findings suggest pitocin causes Autism. Is it possible that flooding the immature body of a fetus (especially boys) with gender-specific synthetic hormones from animals, could somehow interfere with the functions of their psychological systems? We really need to think about this. Also interesting to note is that in the early 1990’s, the Midwife Alliance of North America (MANA) embarked upon a statistical study, which spanned 20 years. They used nationally certified professional midwives. They compiled statistics on 15,000 births. All of the births were unmedicated during labor, and surprisingly – none of the children were Autistic. So – does the use of Pitocin cause….Autism?